Don’t drive when you are drowsy. Find out why?

Why is it risky to drive your vehicle while being drowsy?

Sleepiness and driving is the most dangerous combination. Most people know about the risk of drinking and driving but don’t understand that drowsy driving can be just as lethal. Like alcohol, sleepiness slows response time, decreases awareness, impairs judgement and builds your risk of crashing.

It’s difficult to decide with certainty the reason for a fatal crash where drowsy driving is suspected. However, there are various hints or clues at a crash scene that tell investigators that the person fell asleep at the wheel. For instance, drowsy driving accidents generally include only one vehicle where the driver is alone and the wounds tend to be serious or fatal. Also, skid marks or proof of other ambiguous moves are normally absent from the drowsy driving accident scene.

Driver fatigue could lead to drowsiness, due to over-exertion of the body to drive continuously over extended hours. Normally, this is seen in highway travels, where larger containers are commuting. The drivers normally tend to exert themselves beyond the resonable 10 hours of driving that the human body can take. This is often seen to be dangerous for fellow commuters on the roads.

There are numerous basic reasons for tiredness, fatigue and drowsy driving. Including sleep loss from limitation or too little rest, disturbance or fragmented sleep; chronic sleep debt; circadian elements connected with driving patterns or work routines; undiagnosed or untreated sleep issue; time spent on a chore; the utilization of sedating medications; and the using of alcohol when already tired. These components have cumulative impacts and a mix of any of these can significantly increase one’s risk for a fatigue-related crash.

Sleepiness or Fatigue Causes the Following:

Impaired reaction time, judgment and vision

Problems with information processing and short-term memory

Decreased performance, vigilance and motivation

Increased moodiness and aggressive behaviors

Ensure that you park your vehicle and rest for a brief time before you get back on the streets. A quick 10mins nap can at times help in case you are in crunch of time. A good 30mins nap can do wonders in relaxing the mind and helping you drive better. It is always better not to drive in case you are drowsy as it a threat not just for yourself, passengers within your vehicle, but also the other commuters on the road.